Calcutta High Court hearing on Bengal post-poll violence concludes: A five-judge bench adjourned the verdict to a later date.

The court had ordered the NHRC to set up an eight-member committee to visit the clash-hit areas and meet people allegedly attacked by supporters of the TMC

A five-judge bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal adjourned the verdict to a later date.: File picture

Legal Reporter   |   Calcutta   |   04.08.21: Calcutta High Court on Tuesday concluded hearing in public interest litigations seeking its intervention in incidents of violence which had occurred after the counting of Assembly election votes on August 2.

A five-judge bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal adjourned the verdict to a later date.

The court had ordered the National Human Rights Commission to set up an eight-member committee to visit the clash-hit areas and meet people allegedly attacked by supporters of the Trinamul Congress.

The committee submitted a report to the court admitting the petitioners’ contention of post-poll violence by the ruling party. The report recommended that each incident be probed by an independent investigating agency like the CBI.

The state government opposed the NHRC recommendations. Appearing for the state and police, advocates Kapil Sibbal and Abhisekh Manu Singhvi argued that members of the committee were BJP activists and the report was politically biased.

Appearing for the NHRC, advocate Mahesh Jethmalani claimed the bench should hand over each case to an independent agency for probe.

The court, in its verdict, will decide whether the state police would continue its proceedings or the cases would be handed over to an agency like the CBI.